Changes in European Union’s Foreign Policy after the European Parliament Election

and the Prospect of ROK-EU Relations

Dr. Nam-Kook Kim

Jean Monnet Chair Professor,

Dept of Political Science and International Relations,

Korea University

nkim98@gmail.com

Executive Summary

○ While Asia, the United States, and Europe compose three major axes that construct world order, Asia has overwhelmingly built its history upon the U.S.-oriented international relations. South Korea, too, has developed its foreign relations based on the ROK-U.S. relationship. Nevertheless, it is necessary for South Korea to actively develop the ROK-EU relations to diversify its diplomacy and national security options.

○ Major agenda of the EU in 2019 involved: 1) Progress in Brexit surrounding the borderline issues of Northern Ireland; 2) Comparison of the potential influence of divisions between Eastern and Western Europe on the issue of principle and value of democracy with the possible result of Brexit to the future of EU; 3) Revival of hegemonic power competition and possible decline of the status of EU as a global actor.

○ In 2019 European Parliament elections, far-right parties took top spots in France, Britain, Italy, Poland, and Hungary. At the same time, the European Green Party rose to the fourth within the European Parliament. The decline of traditional left and right parties and the rise of far-right and the Green parties indicate that social and cultural division functions as a more significant variable than socioeconomic factors.

○ The overall result of the election is marked by a balance between the left and the right. Representatives of major organizations have shifted from right-wing dominance to left-right balance. As Josep Borrell, a new high representative for foreign affairs and national security of the EU, has been a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party for a long time, he stressed that he would prioritize the issue of humanitarian assistance, development aid for Africa and immigration diplomacy. Also, he emphasized foreign policy that reflects the interest of European citizens, which has been strengthened before and after Brexit, and he expressed an intention for the EU to actively intervene in major sites of world order as a global actor.

○ The European Union Global Strategy (EUGS) 2016, Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) 2017, Connecting Europe & Asia 2018 and EU-China Strategic Outlook 2019 ultimately aim for a competition with the United States, Russia and China, and the development of European-style infrastructure, such as the rule of law, sustainable economic development and good governance, and the expansion of digital economic standard within the European Union region, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, and elsewhere.

○ South Korea needs to focus on accurately understanding the current political uncertainty in Europe due to Brexit and divisions between Eastern and Western Europe and, at the same time, unchanging characteristics of the EU. Then, it should create a mid- and long-term diplomatic framework based on multilateralism, international norm and democracy with major European countries as a part of security strategy and a diplomacy to build a foundation.

※ Translator’s note: This is a summarized unofficial translation of the original paper which was written in Korean. All references should be made to the original paper.

※ This article is written based on the author’s personal opinions and does not reflect the views of the Sejong Institute.